Chief of Police
Chief Jimmy Toler
Contact: (903)531-1015
Hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Chief of Police Jimmy Toler is a veteran of the Tyler Police Department with 30 years of service. As the Chief of Police, he commands a department comprised of over 260 employees (204 sworn) and oversees an annual operating budget of $34 million.
Chief Toler began his career with the Tyler Police Department in December 1993. During his years of service with the department, he has had the opportunity to work in the Patrol, Investigations, and Administrative divisions. Prior to promoting, he worked as a Patrol Officer, a Youth Crimes Investigator, a Crimes Against Children Investigator, and a District Investigator.
Chief Toler was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in September 2001. As a Sergeant, he has performed assignments in the Patrol, Vice/Narcotics, and the Integrity Unit. He was promoted to Lieutenant in April 2009 and was assigned to the patrol division as a shift commander. In September 2009, he attended the City of Tyler Lean Six Sigma training program. As a Lieutenant, he received his Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt certifications. Using the Lean Six Sigma methodology, he focused on improving numerous areas of the department. He is a member of the City of Tyler Performance Excellence Program and continues to work to implement strategic planning principles and best practices throughout the organization.
In July 2013, he was promoted to Assistant Chief and assumed command of the Patrol Division. In this assignment, he supervised Patrol Operations, the Traffic Unit, Training, Career Development, and Airport Security. In June 2015, he transferred to the Investigations Division. As the Investigations Division Commander, he supervised Criminal Investigators, Community Response, Dispatch / Communications, Records, and Building / Fleet operations. Chief Toler worked as the departmental liaison during the development and construction of the Faulkner Park Police Station.
Chief Toler received his Associate's Degree from Kilgore College in 1991 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1993. Chief Toler is a graduate of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas/Leadership Command College and the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, 251st Session. In addition, he is a graduate of Leadership Tyler, Class 28.
Chief Toler's Professional and Civic Affiliations include: Tyler Police Foundation, Smith County Children's Advocacy Center, Tyler Sister Cities International, Church and Community Network, Smith County Behavioral Health Leadership Team, International Association of Chiefs of Police (I.A.C.P.), F.B.I. National Academy Associates, Smith County Peace Officers Association (Vice President), Leadership Tyler, and Catalyst 100.
Chief Toler serves as an Executive Team Leader for the City of Tyler. In addition to the police department's responsibilities, he oversees the operations of Animal Services and Code Enforcement.
View the Tyler Police Department's Organizational Chart(PDF, 189KB)(PDF, 96KB)
Investigative Division
Assistant Chief Jon Thornhill
Contact: (903)531-1074
Hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jon Thornhill was hired by the Tyler Police Department in May of 1996. After attending the police academy, Jon worked in the patrol division until November of 2001, when he was assigned as a Crimes Against Children Investigator at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County. Jon served as an investigator at the CAC for five years.
He was selected to attend the Texas DPS Polygraph School in Austin. Upon returning from this school, Jon completed his internship as a polygraph examiner and was assigned to the Youth Crimes/Forgery Division.
In 2008, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to the Integrity Division as an audit and inspections supervisor. In 2009, Jon was assigned as the Supervisor of the Integrity Unit. Jon worked in the Integrity Unit until April of 2016, when he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
As a Lieutenant, Jon has held supervisory positions in both the Patrol and Support Services Divisions. Jon served as the department’s accreditation manager from January 2022 until the close of the accreditation cycle in January 2026.
Jon was selected to attend the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where he graduated with Session 287 in September 2023.
Jon is currently enrolled in the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas program and is scheduled to attend the second module in April of 2026.
Jon holds a Master Peace Officer Certification and is a TCOLE instructor. He is a Licensed Polygraph Examiner and has served for several years as a board member and an officer for the Texas Association of Law Enforcement Polygraph Investigators.
He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Tyler.
Learn more about the Investigative Division.
Patrol Division
Assistant Chief Billy Yates
Contact: (903)526-7578
Hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Assistant Chief Yates began his career with the Tyler Police Department in April 1999 and attended the first Tyler Junior College Police academy. During his years of service with the department, he has had the opportunity to work in the Patrol and Investigation divisions.
Prior to promoting, he worked as a Patrol Officer, Bicycle Officer, SWAT Officer, Field Training Officer, and a TCOLE Instructor.
He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in May 2008. As a Sergeant, Yates has performed assignments in the Patrol, K9, Gang, and the Crimes Against Persons Unit. He also served as the Assistant Field Training Coordinator. He was promoted to Lieutenant in February 2014 and was assigned to the patrol division as a shift commander. In 2016, he was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division, where he supervised 6 sergeants, 23 detectives, 15 officers, and 3 civilians.
Assistant Chief Yates has received numerous awards and commendations, including the Meritorious Conduct Award, the Life-Saving Award, the Certificate of Achievement, and the Certificate of Merit. In 2001, he was also recognized as Rookie of the Year, and in 2012 as Supervisor of the Year.
Assistant Chief Yates has served as a board member for Adult Protective Services, Robbery Investigators of Texas, as Vice President for the Smith County Peace Officers Association, and as a board member for the Tyler Patrolman's Association.
Assistant Chief Yates received his Associate's Degree from Tyler Junior College and a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree from Midwestern State University, where he graduated with honors.
Assistant Chief Yates is a graduate of the Texas Police Chiefs Developing Leaders Course, Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT), Leadership Command College Class 80, the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, Session 268, and Leadership Tyler, Class 35.
Learn more about the Patrol Division.
Support Services Division
Assistant Chief Eddie Sheffield
Contact: (903)535-0125
Hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Assistant Chief Eddie Sheffield began his career with Tyler PD in June of 1994. He has worked in all three divisions of the department (Patrol, Investigations, and Support Services). Prior to promoting, he served as a TCOLE instructor, recruiter, field training officer, honor guard member, hostage negotiator, and a detective (1998-2003).
In 2003, Sheffield was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. As a Sergeant, he supervised officers, detectives, and civilians in assignments that included Patrol, Vehicle Crimes, Property Crimes, Bicycle Unit, Traffic Unit, K-9 Unit, and the FTO Program. He was assigned as the TCOLE Training Coordinator in June 2012 and tasked with the implementation of the Police Training Officer (PTO) program, a problem-based learning method for recruit field training. He is a graduate of Southern Police Institute’s National PTO Academy at the University of Louisville (KY).
In January 2017, Sheffield was promoted to Lieutenant, where he continued to serve in the Support Services Division and was responsible for the Career Development Unit, Building and Fleet Services, and the Data Management Unit. From 2018 to 2020, he served in the Patrol Division as the shift commander for the Midnight and Day Shifts. In January 2021, he moved to the Investigative Division and was responsible for the daily management of various investigative units and forensic analysts.
During his time of service, Assistant Chief Sheffield has received multiple awards and commendations, including the department’s Life-Saving Award, three Police Commendations, two Certificates of Merit, multiple letters of recognition, and a 30-year safe-driving bar. He served as a hostage negotiator for 26 years, the last 11 of which were as the Negotiation Team commander. Currently, he serves as the Incident Commander for SWAT/barricade incidents.
Assistant Chief Sheffield graduated with honors from Sam Houston State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in psychology. He holds a Master Peace Officer certification and, in 2018, was among the first group in the department to be trained as an FAA-licensed UAS remote pilot.
Since August 2022, he has served as the Support Services Division Commander.
Learn more about:
Support Services Division
Training Division